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Low-altitude economy

Meituan aims to launch meal deliveries by drones in Hong Kong

The meal delivery giant joins a slew of Chinese tech giants vying for new growth in Hong Kong.

21 Nov 2024 - 7:00AM

Why is demand for drone pilots soaring in China?

18 Nov 2024 - 10:11AMvideocam

University of Hong Kong to launch master’s degree in low-altitude economy in 2025

11 Nov 2024 - 6:28PM

China’s low-altitude economy is all the buzz, so where are the tangible results?

National-level plans are in the works and will likely offer guidance to local governments eager to capitalise on the low-altitude sector, from drones to eVTOL aircraft.

20 Nov 2024 - 11:42AMvideocam

The Fengqiao Town Central Health Center in Nanhu District, Jiaxing City, uses drones to deliver medicines to the villages under its jurisdiction. Photo: Xinhua

Flying cars, drones to take off in Shenzhen with US$1.7 billion investment

Shenzhen is spending 12 billion yuan on the low-altitude economy over the next two years, with another 20 billion yuan planned through 2030.

6 Nov 2024 - 5:00PMvideocam

Flying over Hong Kong in passenger drones? Firm says just waiting on approval

Subsidiary of Kwoon Chung Bus Holdings seeking first-mover advantage with fleet of 30 uncrewed drones undergoing test flights over border.

6 Nov 2024 - 8:25PM

Hong Kong to help low-altitude economy take flight with legislative shake-up

City leader John Lee also discusses aviation in latest policy address, reveals third runway to be completed this year.

16 Oct 2024 - 8:54PMvideocam

Experts have suggested Hong Kong look to mainland China for opportunities to develop its own “low-altitude economy”. Photo: Xinhua

How high can the low-altitude economy soar as US, China battle for supremacy?

Low-altitude economy is seen a new growth engine for China, highlighted by demonstrations during the recent week-long National Day holiday.

10 Oct 2024 - 8:47AMvideocam

Meituan’s delivery workers earn US$11 billion in 2023, CEO says

CEO Wang Xing’s internal announcement reflects Meituan’s efforts to address mainland policymakers’ concerns over the welfare of gig workers.

18 Sep 2024 - 6:00PM

China’s low-altitude economy adds ‘new track’ with home-grown blimp delivery

China’s first home-grown ‘civil manned airship’ blimp has been delivered to a client in the southern Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

20 Nov 2024 - 11:47AMvideocam

China’s first home-grown AS700 civil manned airship during a demonstration flight in Yangshuo county. Photo: Xinhua

Explainer | What’s the buzz around China’s low-altitude economy?

From drone deliveries and surveillance to flying cars and tourism, technology for manned and unmanned aviation applications is being rapidly embraced across China.

26 Aug 2024 - 11:44PMvideocam

Several regions, including Beijing, Anhui and Suzhou, are prioritising the development of low-altitude flight scenarios to drive growth in the low-altitude economy. Photo: China News Service/VCG via Getty Images

China’s low-altitude economy spreads wings as struggling locales look skyward

The economic model has been elevated to new heights nationwide as struggling regional governments vie for a piece of the pie in the sky.

26 Aug 2024 - 10:00AMvideocam

Chinese EV battery maker CATL invests in ‘flying car’ developer AutoFlight

The largest maker of electric car batteries is investing millions of dollars into the aerial vehicle firm as China’s low-altitude economy takes flight.

5 Aug 2024 - 6:00PM

Shanghai seeks AI, humanoid robotics, low-altitude economy upgrade by 2027

Shanghai will look to attract AI companies, build a humanoid robot manufacturing innovation centre and test low-altitude industrial logistics by 2027.

26 Jul 2024 - 5:00PMvideocam

Visitors touch humanoid robot hands on display at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai. Photo: AP

China moves closer to launching flying taxi services as EHang seeks Beijing’s go-ahead

Chinese flying taxi maker EHang’s latest certification process marks the final step before it enters the domestic market for urban air mobility services.

23 Jul 2024 - 6:00PMvideocam

EHang is working closely with the Civil Aviation Administration of China to establish a new operating system for pilotless aerial vehicles. Photo: SCMP

Reach for the sky: China’s low-altitude economic plans see UAVs surge by 48%

China is pushing for the ‘low-altitude economy’ to foster high-value jobs, bolster innovation in science and technology and inject momentum into the overall economy.

11 Jul 2024 - 8:12PMvideocam

Xpeng’s AeroHT affiliate to price first flying car at US$200,000

The company expects to begin deliveries at the end of next year and aims to sell 5,000 units, as China’s low-altitude economy takes flight.

5 Jul 2024 - 5:34PMvideocam

Hong Kong should tap tech firms in ‘low-altitude economy’ push: observers

Role of private companies highlighted in development of neighbouring Shenzhen’s drone delivery and transport operations.

4 Jul 2024 - 8:06PM

An uncrewed aircraft in Guangzhou. Hong Kong authorities are exploring the use of drones to deliver goods in the New Territories. Photo: Xinhua

Hong Kong exploring use of drones for goods delivery: transport official

Government looking at Northern Metropolis, Kau Yi Chau artificial islands as sites for pilot projects, as both have sufficient open spaces.

3 Jul 2024 - 8:50PM

Late for a meeting? No problem! Shenzhen adds heli-transfer at railway station

Travellers arriving at Shenzhen North rail station can connect within the southern tech hub via helicopter amid China’s ‘low-altitude economy’ push.

4 Jul 2024 - 9:01AMvideocam

Global aviation firms hope Beijing business is unscathed by China-EU trade rows

Rising trade tensions trigger concern about potential retaliatory measures from Beijing, including against the aviation sector.

18 Jun 2024 - 11:40PMvideocam

Airbus said it hoped its business in China would not be affected. Photo: Seong Hyeon Choi

Chinese EV maker Xpeng’s flying car takes first flight in Beijing

X2, a flying car made by Xpeng affiliate AeroHT, took off at Beijing Daxing International Airport, as the firm moves closer to commercialising its aircraft.

16 Jun 2024 - 7:02PM

X2, a flying car made by Xpeng affiliate AeroHT, has completed its maiden flight at Beijing Daxing International Airport. Photo: Handout

China’s aviation leader puts cargo drone to test amid industry push

Uncrewed vehicles are essential to China’s low-altitude economy, which the government has bolstered with policies and regulations since 2021.

14 Jun 2024 - 4:03PMvideocam

Hong Kong must address drone safety worries and laws before wider use: John Lee

Lawmakers have urged government to follow mainland China’s lead and embrace crewless aircraft to transport tourists and make food deliveries.

13 Jun 2024 - 10:36PM

China’s top science institute restructured to focus on research frontiers

Chinese Academy of Sciences undergoes organisational overhaul as Beijing pushes original innovation in bid to become tech superpower.

11 Jul 2024 - 2:31AM

Robots perform at the 2023 World Robot Conference in Beijing last August. Chinese cities and provinces have ramped up development of new sectors such as artificial intelligence. Photo: Simon Song

Chinese province looking to ‘flying taxis’ to give tourist industry wings

Shanxi is investing in electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles and drone deliveries as part of a national effort to boost the ‘low altitude economy’.

3 Jun 2024 - 9:18AMvideocam

Despite government support for flying taxis, questions about reliablilty and safety remain. Photo: Xinhua

Chinese air taxi maker EHang completes first flight in Middle East

The company’s flagship EH216-S autonomous flying vehicle took off in Abu Dhabi, as part of a plan to launch commercial flights in the UAE.

7 May 2024 - 8:30PMvideocam

EVs might fly in China as Xpeng’s affiliate aims for Q4 presales

AeroHT, an affiliate of Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng, has started the countdown for the commercialisation of its flying car and plans to start taking pre-orders in the fourth quarter of this year.

27 Apr 2024 - 6:38AMvideocam

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Low-altitude economy

"Low altitude" refers to airspace 1 kilometre (0.6 miles) above the surface of the Earth; the low-altitude economy encompasses all airborne economic activity within this sphere, including drones and flying cars. This has been an area of growing interest for countries around the world, with China's low-altitude economy having been predicted by one firm in March 2024 to hit 2 trillion yuan (then around US$280 billion) by 2030.

last updated:

26 August, 2024